#it’s set in like 1980s that’s why modernish day and use of cassette tapes btw

[why-its-kai]

thinking too much today about my human/modernish day au!Q and his weirdass car. i still have no idea what the model would be or even the color of it but the interior is just very weird. like it’s not a particularly high-end car or anything and is far from new at the point this whole storyline in my head is happening so the extent of interior customization is just unexpected and weird. but he’s reupholstered the seats with red velour. he’s got one of those tacky gear shift knobs that’s shaped like a cobra’s head (a la his serpent form from hide&q lol). he’s had a high-quality car stereo system installed. and like at the same time it’s pretty messy in there, not like a trash/dirty mess but just lots of random junk is in there, most importantly LOTS of cassette tapes (mostly contained in the glove box and center console but those are packed tight) bc he loves music (Q usually listens to his music loudly while driving and sings along passionately but does not have a particularly good singing voice). it seems unorganized to everyone besides Q bc he knows exactly where everything is. also he’s a terrible driver (goes too fast, takes turns too tight, doesn’t remember to signal, makes sudden illegal u-turns, etc. aka the guy you never want to be driving behind lmao) but miraculously has avoided ever causing or being in a car accident. but the first time Picard accepts a ride home from Q, he thoroughly believes he’s going to die. they safely arrive at Picard’s home where he manages to choke out a polite “thank you” while Q notices the man’s literal white knuckles on his shaking hands as Picard unbuckles his seat belt and for the first time in his life, he wonders if maybe he’s not a good driver (Q is at least 50 years old at this point btw)